Even more interesting is the claim that "Abrams and Lucasfilm are now searching for a 20-something female actress who is either of mixed race or black. The rumor is that Obi-Wan Kenobi had a daughter or granddaughter."

And from the sounds of it, there's been quite a bit of behind the scenes drama on Episode VII that led to Oscar-winning screenwriter Michael Arndtparting ways with the project last fall. Even the counsel of former Lucasfilm boss George Lucas was said to have been sought. From THR:

"Arndt is said to have focused on the offspring of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), with the original trilogy heroes taking on supporting roles. Abrams, however, wanted Episode VII to focus on the classic trio of characters, so audiences could have one more chance to enjoy them before a fitting send-off. The new characters, the offspring, will now be in supporting roles, according to these sources, and take center stage in Episode VIII and IX. Some characters have disappeared from the Arndt script and new ones are being drafted.

So with Abrams and Kasdan now overhauling the script, that means many of the actors who had met and auditioned have been nixed for various reasons. For example, one actor who met with Abrams in the fall before the overhaul was Mud breakout star Tye Sheridan. But sources say that at this stage, there is no need for such young actors and thus Sheridan will not be involved. In another case, one part that was initially conceived as a 20-year old male is now being rewritten to be a 40-year old."

The 40-year-old character is one we've heard about before when rumors spread that Abrams and Co. wanted a Matt Damon in Elysium-type. Could that be the role that Fassbender, 36, is said to have met with Abrams about in December?